<![CDATA[Newsroom Pirelli]]> https://press.pirelli.com/ en Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:32:01 +0200 Mon, 09 Apr 2018 12:33:49 +0200 <![CDATA[Newsroom Pirelli]]> https://content.presspage.com/clients/150_2176.png https://press.pirelli.com/ 144 Young talent conquers Corsica with Pirelli P Zero https://press.pirelli.com/young-talent-conquers-corsica-with-pirelli-p-zero/ https://press.pirelli.com/young-talent-conquers-corsica-with-pirelli-p-zero/272313Pirelli helped some of the most promising young drivers in rallying to tackle one of the sport’s toughest challenges in Corsica. As well as supplying the Junior World Rally Championship, for which Corsica was round two of the season, Pirelli claimed a strong third place in the WRC2 class.

Franceschi first in an all-French fight. As was the case in Sweden, two local drivers battled over the win in the Junior category. Terry Folb led by 14.6 seconds after just three stages, but fellow Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Franceschi reeled him in and took the lead during Saturday, when he won all six stages. He finished up 33.7 seconds clear of Folb, while Sweden’s Emil Bergkvist came third.

Italian prospect shows his class in WRC2. Young Italian driver Fabio Andolfi scored his best result to date in the WRC, with third in the WRC2 class and 11th overall. Driving a Skoda Fabia R5 on Pirelli tyres and with backing from the Italian motorsport federation, Andolfi was beaten only by more experienced factory-supported drivers.

New P Zero RK passes a rigorous test. The latest version of Pirelli’s P Zero RK made its debut in Corsica: a single tread pattern tyre, which is designed to offer good grip and directionality in a very wide variety of asphalt conditions. Corsica provides one of the most thorough tests for an asphalt tyre, with varying surface and weather conditions, as well as extremely long stages.

Terenzio Testoni, Pirelli rally activity manager. “Corsica contained some of the longest stages seen on the event for years, including a 55-kilometre test on the final day. Despite the length of these stages, made up of corner after corner, the tyre performance remained not only extremely consistent – allowing the Junior drivers to push with confidence – but also faster than has been seen on the Junior championship in previous years. So, we’re happy with the first outing for our latest 2018-specification asphalt P Zero RK tyres, in warm and challenging conditions throughout all three days. Congratulations to Fabio Andolfi for scoring his best result in WRC2 following a very strong rally.”

What's next? The next round of the Junior World Rally Championship will be on gravel in Portugal from May 17-20, while the next World Rally Championship event is in Argentina from April 26-29.

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For further information about Pirelli, please contact Anthony Peacock on +44 (0)7765 896 930 or anthony.peacock.ex@pirelli.com

For more information on Rally Corsica, please visit: www.tourdecorse.com

]]> Sun, 08 Apr 2018 13:00:00 +0200 https://content.presspage.com/clients/150_2176.png?10000 https://content.presspage.com/clients/150_2176.png?10000 Junior World Rally Championship puts the accent on youth with Pirelli Sottozero in Sweden https://press.pirelli.com/junior-world-rally-championship-puts-the-accent-on-youth-with-pirelli-sottozero-in-sweden/ https://press.pirelli.com/junior-world-rally-championship-puts-the-accent-on-youth-with-pirelli-sottozero-in-sweden/266388This year, Pirelli is exclusively supplying the Junior World Rally Championship: a key part of the company’s strategy to bring on the next generation of champions. Consisting of five rounds, starting with Rally Sweden, it will be fought out between some of the most promising young talents in rallying in identical Ford Fiesta R2Ts prepared by M-Sport. At the end of the season, the champion will become the owner of a brand-new Fiesta R5 together with a tyre and fuel package as well as other assistance towards the 2019 WRC2 season. The JWRC competitors: A strong field of 15 drivers (all born since 1989) are registered for the 2018 Junior WRC, representing 12 nations from around the world. Umberto Accornero: An Italian, who actually began his career in British rallies. He will miss Sweden and instead begin his campaign on the Tour de Corse. Emil Bergkvist: The Swede won the European junior title in 2015 and now returns to R2 machinery after two seasons in WRC2. Navigated by the experienced Norwegian Ola Floene, former co-driver of Andreas Mikkelsen and Mads Ostberg. Luca Bottarelli: The 20-year-old has support from ACI Team Italia, a Pirelli-backed initiative to help develop young Italian drivers. “I think it’s a really good opportunity to improve my experience,” he said. Theo Chalal: One of three Frenchmen aiming to follow in the footsteps of M-Sport’s Sebastien Ogier: himself a former JWRC champion. “It’s a chance for me to discover a new championship and new rallies,” commented Theo. Callum Devine: Makes the step up after winning the British junior title in 2017. “There are guys here with a lot more experience than us; if we get close to them and show our pace we’ll be happy,” added Callum. Emilio Fernandez: Hails from Chile, so Rally Sweden may provide a stark contrast to what he’s used to, but he does know the Fiesta R2T well. Terry Folb: A protégé of Sebastien Loeb and one of the most experienced drivers in the field, having come third in the JWRC in both 2015 and 2017. Jean-Baptiste Franceschi: Became French Junior Champion last year, earning him a place on his national federation’s ‘Equipe de France’ scheme, which also launched the careers of Sebastiens Loeb and Ogier. David Holder: Champion of New Zealand in 2016, he hopes to emulate fellow Kiwi Hayden Paddon, who got his break through the Pirelli Star Driver scheme. Enrico Oldrati: His father and uncle have both competed in the Italian rally championship, but Enrico’s debut only came in December, against the likes of Valentino Rossi at the Monza Rally Show. He benefits from the experience of well-known co-driver Danilo Fappani. Denis Radstrom: Another Swede, who actually hails from Torsby where Rally Sweden is based. Stepped up to the JWRC last year and finished the year fifth in the standings. Ralfs Sirmacis: A Latvian who came second to Bergkvist in the European junior series in 2015 and then won three European championship rallies outright the following year. Billed as a star of the future, Ralfs is looking to start his campaign in Corsica. Julius Tannert: Dominated the Opel Adam Cup in his native Germany in 2015 to earn a European junior campaign on Pirelli tyres before switching to JWRC last year, winning the class at home. Ken Torn: Estonian champion at R2 level last year. Co-driver Kuldar Sikk has also worked with Ott Tanak in the past, including when Tanak was part of the Pirelli Star Driver scheme. Tom Williams: The godson of Richard Burns, who was world champion in 2001 with Pirelli. Only 19 but came second in his class in the British championship in 2017, and also gained WRC experience in Finland and Germany. The rules: The JWRC drivers are allowed to use up to 22 tyres during the event, with a separate allocation for the shakedown. Pirelli quote: Terenzio Testoni, rally activity manager: “Our support of the Junior World Rally Championship fits in perfectly with our company-wide philosophy to support young drivers and provide them with a ladder of talent to reach the top, which in the past has helped current WRC factory drivers such as Craig Breen, Elfyn Evans, Hayden Paddon, and Ott Tanak through schemes such as Pirelli Star Driver and WRC Academy. Now we’re delighted to promote the next generation of young drivers, starting in Sweden this weekend.” Media function: The Junior World Rally Championship will be presented at a special function at the M-Sport hospitality in the Rally Sweden service park from 17:15 to 17:45 on Wednesday 14 February. All accredited media are welcome to attend.

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For further information about Pirelli or to arrange an interview with Pirelli’s rally activity manager Terenzio Testoni, please contact Anthony Peacock on +44 (0)7765 896 930 or anthony@mediaticaworld.com For more information on Rally Sweden, please visit: www.rallysweden.com]]> Tue, 13 Feb 2018 10:10:44 +0100 https://content.presspage.com/clients/150_2176.png?10000 https://content.presspage.com/clients/150_2176.png?10000